The Greek Prime Ministerhas insisted that he will “put an end once and forall” tothe austerity policiesofthe EU andnegotiate a new agreementfor Greece.“It is time to move on, not only inGreece butin Europe,”proclaimedthe Greekpresident.In Athens, before the deputiesofSYRIZAand after atour of severalEuropean capitals, Tsiprassaid hisgovernmentwill not back downonits promisesand that voterswill not be fooled again: “Everyone canbe sure thatthisGovernment will dowhat it says.“Tsiprashas given a strong speech applauded by all his fellow ‘soldiers’. “Greeceis no longerthe unfortunatepal that listens to do its homework. Greecehas itsown voice,”Tsiprasdefended.

The International MonetaryFund is oneof the largest creditorsof Greece debt and therefore it had something to sayto Athens, while thehead of theeconomic team toured European capitals along with Tsipras, while he presented hisplanto managethe paymentof the debt.The IMF says it is willingto discuss theireconomic policy proposals, but until then avoidedspeculating abouthow it will affect its assistance program.

“The form of any agreement will now be subject todiscussion with them,” said Thursday theIMF spokesmanGerryRice,who insistedthat so far “there has not been any discussion on specific proposals” tochange the frameon whichit reststhe actionof the institution tosaveGreecefrom bankruptcy.“We want tohear their ideasand when we dowe canbe more specific,” he said.

The newGreek Finance Minister, Yanis Varoufakis, had a firsttouchdownon Saturday inParis with theresponsible of the IMF for Europe, PoulThomsen. It was short, and no proposals were discussed on debt negotiationor about how to start modifyingthe framework agreedthree years ago.

“It was merely to discussthe challengesfacingGreece,” said Rice.Contact betweenWashingtonand Athens is happening at a technical level. Meanwhile, ChristineLagarde,theIMF managing director, participated in the meeting with the press.Lagardehas avoidedcommenting onthe new situation inGreece after the elections. Rice, meanwhile, reiteratedthat the agencydoes not want toget ahead ofthe facts.“We want to see progressfrom now,” he noted,whilemade clearthat the IMF is“to servein the bestpossible way to themembers.”Neithercommented on thedecision of the EuropeanCentralBank to cutlending toAthens oron the future ofthetroika.

Luis R. Miranda is an award-winning journalist and the founder and editor-in-chief at The Real Agenda. His career spans over 18 years and almost every form of news media. His articles include subjects such as environmentalism, Agenda 21, climate change, geopolitics, globalisation, health, vaccines, food safety, corporate control of governments, immigration and banking cartels, among others. Luis has worked as a news reporter, on-air personality for Live and Live-to-tape news programs. He has also worked as a script writer, producer and co-producer on broadcast news. Read more about Luis.

About The Author

Luis R. Miranda is an award-winning journalist and the founder and editor-in-chief at The Real Agenda. His career spans over 18 years and almost every form of news media. His articles include subjects such as environmentalism, Agenda 21, climate change, geopolitics, globalisation, health, vaccines, food safety, corporate control of governments, immigration and banking cartels, among others. Luis has worked as a news reporter, on-air personality for Live and Live-to-tape news programs. He has also worked as a script writer, producer and co-producer on broadcast news. Read more about Luis.